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Could Modern Family Be Ending?

By: Joe Hyer

March 1, 2017

Modern Family will wrap production on its current season later this week, but could it be the show’s final season?

Contracts for the most of the show's core cast members have not yet been renewed for another season, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In fact, negotiations have not even begun for the show's adult cast members (Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ed O'Neill) at this point.

Of course, it all comes down to a battle over money. 20th Century Fox (Modern Family’s production company) is said to be fighting with ABC (the network where the show airs) over the show’s cost. Usually, by this point in a series run the network would traditionally fund most of the show’s production costs, the Hollywood Reporter explains. How much funding ABC is providing the show (per their licensing agreement) is not really clear.

Modern Family’s ratings have fallen slightly in recent years, but it remains the top-rated show on ABC most weeks. ABC and 20th Century Fox have not publicly commented, but they do have a few months left to reach an agreement. Both the network and studio, which technically have until mid-May to make a decision about the show's fate, declined to comment.